Code editors
Visual Studio Code privacy rating
Microsoft's code editor with built-in Git support, debugging, AI features and an extension marketplace. Built from the MIT-licensed Code - OSS repository, with Microsoft branding and proprietary components.
Summary
Visual Studio Code scores 50 out of 100 (grade D) on the code editors criteria. It meets 1 of 4 criteria: no ads or data sales. It partly meets open source and no trackers or telemetry. It does not meet independent audit. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.
Score 50 out of 100. How scoring works
Criteria
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Partial
Open source Weight 3 of 3
Is all the source code needed to run the product public?
The Code - OSS source is MIT, but Microsoft's Visual Studio Code builds add proprietary components under a Microsoft product license.
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Partial
No trackers or telemetry Weight 3 of 3
Are the website and apps free of third-party trackers, with any analytics anonymous and any telemetry off by default?
Crash reports, error telemetry and usage data are sent to Microsoft by default and can be turned off with the telemetry.telemetryLevel setting. Extensions may send their own telemetry.
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Yes
No ads or data sales Weight 2 of 3
Is the product funded without advertising, ad targeting or selling user data?
Free product from Microsoft with no ads in the editor.
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No
Independent audit Weight 2 of 3
Has an independent security or privacy audit been published within the last three years?
No independent audit is published.